Flint’s
hard-hitting, knockout artist didn’t want to leave the hometown fans
disappointed in the main event of the “Fights & Fireworks” showdown
in Atwood Stadium late Saturday night.

And he didn’t.

Dirrell scored a fifth round knockout over Craig — a 2000 Olympian — with a gut check at the 1:50 mark.

“It
was a one-two, then I took him to the body and that’s all she wrote,”
said Dirrell. “It feels good to finally get it over with.”

Dirrell
(22-0, 19 KO’s) picked up the vacant UBO super middleweight title with
the win. The energy stemming from the admirers fueled the newly crowned
champion.

In the end this support was a gift but it could have potentially been a curse.

“We
worked on something in the gym and that’s what we got to do instead of
feeding into the crowd,” said Dirrell. “That’s what I got to do from now
on...pay attention to the game plan.”

An estimated count of over 4,000 attendees packed the site to cheer on Dirrell.

He
was escorted to the ring by local up-and-coming rapper Jon Connor who
performed a special song for the fighter. Fans stood on their feet to
cheer him on for most of the bout.

“I know Flint is good supporters and it was more people than I thought but that’s good so I’m happy,” said Dirrell.

Dirrell dominated the bout from the opening bell.

In
the first round, Dirrell attacked with sharp combinations and
right-hand leads to his opponent’s head. He went to the body of Craig in
the second round and finished with a big flurry.

Craig often backed Dirrell into the corner to start the third round.

Dirrell countered with uppercuts to keep Craig at bay.

Near
the end of the round, Craig appeared to get hit with a low blow and
laid out on the canvas longer than three minutes as if he was in pain.
The crowd booed Craig and Dirrell completed three pushups to taunt him.

Dirrell
nailed Craig with a straight shot to start the fourth round. He also
did an impression of fomer light heayweight champion Roy Jones Jr. by
putting his hands behind his back trying to get his opponent to throw
more punches.

A cut formed over Dirrell’s left eye as a result from a forearm by Craig which he said didn’t frustrate him.

The fifth round opened with a 10 punch combo from Dirrell before he ended the battle with the body shot.

“I
would rate my performance an A not an A-plus,” Dirrell said. “I did
good and I didn’t really get hit that much. If it was, it was a pitty
pat and I still did my thing in there.” Team Dirrell was pleased with the overall turnout.

Their event marked the first official scrap in Atwood in 64 years.

The
last fight took place Aug. 22, 1947, when boxing legend Willie Pep
retained his featherweight title in front of 10,385 fans in the city’s
only world championship match.

Pep knocked out hometown hero Jock Leslie 45 seconds into the 12th round of a bout that was scheduled for 15 rounds.

“They
thought we wasn’t going to be able to pull it off but we pulled it off
and we did the best we could so we can come back and do this in the
future which I’m looking forward to doing,” Dirrell’s uncle and trainer,
Leon Lawson Jr said.

“This is what the fans want to see, this
is what Flint wants to see and it’s not enough of this,” Dirrell’s older
brother and 2004 Olympic broze medalist, Andre said. “We just want
positive energy and it’s a lot of hiddent talent out here but we got to
bring it out and it’s going to come out with events like this.”

Dirrell will fight Alejandro Berrio on July 22 in Las Vegas on ESPN.

Ron Gardenhire's Okmulgee

Before he was the Detroit Tigers' new skipper, Ron Gardenhire was a humble Oklahoma boy -- and in many ways, he still is ... Go back to where it all began»